Visitors check out the Aurora exhibit on the last day the Exploratorium is open in San Francisco, Calif., Wednesday, January 2, 2013. After Wednesday the Exploratorium will be closed while it moves to its new location at Pier 15.

Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The Chronicle

Visitors check out the Aurora exhibit on the last day the...

Visitors check out the Aurora exhibit on the last day the... Photo-3976044.54611 - SFGate

Image 2 of 12

Raven Placido, 7, of Castro Valley, makes giant bubbles on the last day the Exploratorium is open in San Francisco, Calif., Wednesday, January 2, 2013. After Wednesday the Exploratorium will be closed while it moves to its new location at Pier 15.

Exploratorium Explainers ring bells to announce the closing of the museum to visitors on the last day the Exploratorium is open in San Francisco, Calif., Wednesday, January 2, 2013. After Wednesday the Exploratorium will be closed while it moves to its new location at Pier 15.

Lori Dorsey, left, and her daughter Taylor, 18, right, of Pleasanton, try to make a heart shadow on the last day the Exploratorium is open in San Francisco, Calif., Wednesday, January 2, 2013. After Wednesday the Exploratorium will be closed while it moves to its new location at Pier 15.

Exploratorium Explainer Steven Burks rings the giant bell to mark the closing of the museum for the last time in San Francisco, Calif., Wednesday, January 2, 2013. After Wednesday the Exploratorium will be closed while it moves to its new location at Pier 15.

Zachary Langford, 6, of Sacramento, plays with one of the exhibits on the last day the Exploratorium is open in San Francisco, Calif., Wednesday, January 2, 2013. After Wednesday the Exploratorium will be closed while it moves to its new location at Pier 15.

Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The Chronicle

Zachary Langford, 6, of Sacramento, plays with one of the exhibits...

Zachary Langford, 6, of Sacramento, plays with one of the exhibits... Photo-3976868.54611 - SFGate

Image 7 of 12

A giant magnifying glass enlarges the appearance of visitors on the last day the Exploratorium is open in San Francisco, Calif., Wednesday, January 2, 2013. After Wednesday the Exploratorium will be closed while it moves to its new location at Pier 15.

Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The Chronicle

A giant magnifying glass enlarges the appearance of visitors on the...

Exploratorium Explainers sing and ring bells to announce the closing of the museum to visitors on the last day the Exploratorium is open in San Francisco, Calif., Wednesday, January 2, 2013. After Wednesday the Exploratorium will be closed while it moves to its new location at Pier 15.

Exploratorium Explainers ring bells to announce the closing of the museum to visitors on the last day the Exploratorium is open in San Francisco, Calif., Wednesday, January 2, 2013. After Wednesday the Exploratorium will be closed while it moves to its new location at Pier 15.

Lori Lambertson, the staff educator who worked on the tidal archive exhibit, listens as Eric Socolofsky, the exhibit developer, discusses all the steps involved in creating an exhibit for the Exploratorium in San Francisco, Calif., Wednesday, January 2, 2013.

Photo: Sarah Rice, Special To The Chronicle

Lori Lambertson, the staff educator who worked on the tidal archive...

Lori Lambertson, the staff educator who worked on the tidal archive... Photo-3976066.54611 - SFGate

Image 11 of 12

Eric Socolofsky, the exhibit developer for the tidal archive exhibit, holds the acrylic pieces that represent one day of tides at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, Calif., Wednesday, January 2, 2013.